Funeral Partners invest in Irish businesses

Expansion for Funeral Partners as they invest in Northern Ireland

Eighteen respected funeral homes across Northern Ireland have become part of the high-quality Funeral Partners network - which becomes the leading funeral provider in Northern Ireland.

The investment by Funeral Partners sees James Brown & Sons, the name synonymous with arranging family funerals in Belfast since 1904, expanding to South Belfast and Dunmurry. The acquisition also includes 120-year-old Belfast businesses Houston & Williamson and Bairds of Antrim, which was founded in the late nineteenth century, and other established businesses in Bangor, Belfast, Carrickfergus, L’derry, Donaghadee, Dungannon, Glengormley, Holywood, Larne, Portadown and Newtownards.

Funeral Partners is the UK’s third largest funeral business, with the new businesses bringing their total number of funeral homes to over 200, maintaining the heritage of more than 100 family businesses across England, Scotland and now Northern Ireland. Third generation Funeral Director James Brown MBE

Chief Executive Officer Sam Kershaw said: “As our first funeral acquisition outside the UK mainland, these 18 branches represent significant growth for Funeral Partners.

“These well-established funeral businesses have excellent reputations in their local communities and we look forward to working with the local teams and investing in the businesses to ensure they continue to provide a caring and professional service to local families in Belfast and across Northern Ireland.”

Funeral Partners understands the importance of traditional and cultural differences when providing funeral services in Northern Ireland compared to the mainland.

Third generation Funeral Director James Brown MBE, whose grandfather founded James Brown & Sons, said: “I have been greatly encouraged by Funeral Partners’ willingness to engage with the businesses here in Northern Ireland and to listen to their views.

“I have every confidence that the already excellent service our staff in Northern Ireland

Expansion for Funeral Partners as they invest in Northern Ireland

provide to bereaved people will be enhanced as a result of the change of ownership.”

Wayne Glenn, Funeral Director of Adair & Neely, L’Derry, who joined his father in the business over 20 years ago welcomes becoming part of the network “like a breath of fresh air” after receiving an investment from Funeral Partners, which included refurbished offices. He said: “Funeral Partners are dedicated funeral people and their management team understands the importance of traditional family funerals.

“Funeral Partners have encouraged us to be fully involved with the local community and local people, to support the people who have supported us. We want to be back at the heart of the community supporting youth groups, church groups and other organisations.”

Fourth generation Funeral Director Jon Baird, whose great grandfather James founded Bairds of Antrim, said: “I feel it’s a very positive step because Funeral Partners share our core values, they understand that the families we work with are the foundation of all funeral businesses and they understand the importance of being part of the community.”

Funeral Director James Brown MBE shaking hands with Sam Kershaw Chief Executive Officer, Funeral Partners

Funeral Partners is interested in further expansion in Northern Ireland and would be happy to have an informal and confidential chat with any Funeral Directors who are considering selling their businesses. Contact Chief Executive Officer Sam Kershaw, directly on 07834 531822 or email: sam.kershaw@funeralpartners.co.uk.

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Glyn Tallon shares his expertise with Canadians

On September 23rd and 24th, 2019 Tallon Mortuary Specialists and the Canadian School of Advanced PREP joined together at Hockley Valley Resort in Mono, Ontario, Canada to present a pre conference educational seminar for the Ontario Funeral Service Association to their members and other Canadian embalmers.

This event was attended by over twenty five Canadian embalmers as Glyn Tallon and Karl Wenzel, Larry Stuart, Micheal Gailbrath, and Melissa Machado spoke on various technical subjects ranging from the basic care of decedent care to advanced restorative procedures used to allow families the opportunity to view their loved one for a final time. With over 12 hours of continuing education presented at this event it marks a significant achievement for Tallon

Mortuary Specialists Glyn Tallon and the Canadian School of Advanced PREPS Karl Wenzel. In 2019 these two individuals organised and presented more embalmer education across Canada than any and all other professional associations combined. In March 2019 they also presented a two day seminar in Navan, Co. Meath, sharing education to the Irish embalmers, a first for Ireland. Glyn Tallon and Karl Wenzel continue to share their professional knowledge with

pre-conference seminar in October 2020 in New Orleans, USA as well as holding seminars in Canada throughout 2020.

Glyn Tallon

embalmers abroad in an effort to better serve families everywhere. Both individuals are recognised for their passion for funeral service success and growth and will be presenting at the National Funeral Directors Association

For further information on upcoming seminars visit Tallon Mortuary Specialist website at: www. tallonmortuaryspecialists. com or the Canadian School of Advanced PREPS website at: www.canadianschoolof advancedprep.com

School of EmbalmingEmbalming Tallon Mortuary Specialists y Professional, Confi dential and Caring Services

Qualify for membership of an internationally recognised embalming qualifi cation at your own pace

• The ‘Tallon Mortuary Specialists School of Embalming’ offers students and registered embalmers the highest standards of teaching and practice in a supportive environment, with full use of our training facility. School of registered s of ortive r

• We offer both Distance Learning and attended courses. g

For further information and to discuss how this course might work for you please contact us: Web: www.tallonmortuaryspecialists.com Email: info@tallonmortuaryspecialists.com Glyn Tallon - 14 Academy Street, Navan, Co. Meath Tel: 086 826 8876 / Fax: 046 903 6001